Lancashire’s Blackburn and Darwen council has just started a consultation on a new selective licensing scheme for 42 streets with 1,266 private rental properties.

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The council’s consultation will be running to July 26th e to gauge views on its proposed new selective licensing schemes for PRS landlords letting out ‘homes’ in the nominated area situated just outside the town centre.

The council’s proposed cost for the licence is £724 for five years.

Some of the measures will lay down regulations that the landlord/agent holder will have to provide, safety certificates, rent receipts, references for tenants before being able to issue a tenancy agreements.

The authority states that if the licensing scheme is approved by the government its introduction will significantly improve the area’s  management of the PRS housing  stock, reduce the turnover of tenants and number of empty properties and could increase the value of properties.

The council claims the proposed scheme will help the community by apparently reducing numbers of fly tipping and levels of anti-social behaviour.

Richard Merrick of PIMS,said:” So of course the tenants will end up having to pay for the exorbitant ‘cash cow’  licensing scheme which more and more councils will be quickly jumping on the bandwagon before the Renters Bill comes into force, as it could reduce or ban licensing schemes so as not to duplicate its proposed property portal.